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[The following article appeared in the July 15 edition of \”The Daily\”, which is published during General Convention/ECW Triennial]

By Jim DeLa

Bishop Greg Rickel of the Diocese of Olympia leads Disney hotel workers and supporters on a protest march from the Anaheim Convention Center to Disneyland.Episcopalians attending General Convention linked arms with hotel workers July 14 to march to the gates of Disneyland to demand economic justice for 2,300 Disney employees protesting a planned hike in the cost of their health insurance.

“It seems to me, as our church has moved toward a position of justice for all its members, particularly in the area of health care, this is the perfect opportunity for the church to witness to the world about its convictions regarding economic justice,” said the Rev. Lisa Hackney from the Diocese of Ohio.

Ada Briceno, an official from Local 11 of UNITE HERE, a Los Angeles-based union that includes hotel and restaurant workers, said they had been working without a contract since February 2008. Disney wants to replace the union-funded health plan with a corporate plan, she said, which, in time, will cost a minimum-wage worker about $500 a month for insurance for a family. “These are low-paid workers, making on average about $11 an hour,” she said.

Marchers approach the convention center from the Disney-owned Paradise Pier hotel where they had been picketing earlier in the day.Several hundred people gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center to hear a prayer by Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles before joining more than 1,000 others already on the march to Disneyland.

“I cannot think of any reason more than the gospel proclamation of ‘do justice’ and ‘do God’s work.’ This is where I need to be,” said the Rev. Yamily Bass-Choate, a deputy from the diocese of New York.

Lynn Tyler, a deputy from the Diocese of New Hampshire, was marching to support Disney workers, 75 percent of whom, she said, are women. “And of those women, many are single parents. They’re pretty much living on the edge as it is.”

A letter in support of Disney workers signed by 13 Episcopal bishops said they were taking seriously “our call to stand with the poor and those who are suffering from injustice.” The protest included Episcopal bishops Greg Rickel (Olympia), Gene Robinson (New Hampshire) and Barbara Harris (retired of Massachusetts).

Henry Atkins Jr. of the Episcopal Church Peace and Justice Commission of the Diocese of Los Angeles is asking Episcopalians to boycott Disney hotels if the workers ask.

“We’re now marching with these people who are working for Disney for their rights, their privileges that they deserve as human beings,” said Bruno. “We ask you to let us turn the eyes of Disney toward justice and mercy; toward benefits, and the things necessary for people to live a just and abundant life.”

Here is a statement from the Church, issued today, July 15, about proposed budget cuts:

The Program, Budget and Finance (PB&F) Committee of The Episcopal Church today presented a budget to the General Convention that proposes a $23 million reduction in the 2010-2012 triennial.

“This is a very difficult day,” said Pan Adams-McCaslin, chair of PB&F. “For the committee and for me personally, the decisions are heart-wrenching and emotional. We are being called to be accountable and transparent in our mission and ministry to the Church, knowing that the decisions that have been made will be difficult and painful. As a Church of mission and ministry this is even more difficult because we work for a higher calling.”

Earlier this week, PB&F sent a special letter to both houses of General Convention explaining that there would be reductions. The weak economy caused PB&F to take a very close look at all the Church does, and where and how it does it, as well as how some programs may be consolidated. In finalizing the budget, PB&F followed a well-traveled path consistent with the spirit and practice of the Church – seeking to give to others first and ourselves second, and to help dioceses and parishes continue their focus on ministry.

The reductions, which affect both programs and staff, will occur over the next several months. The Diocesan commitment also is being reduced from 21 percent in 2010, to 20 percent in 2011, and 19 percent in 2012.

The proposed budget addresses every part of the Church: Corporate, Canonical and Program (Mission). While specific program details, in most cases, are still being worked out, approximately 30 positions will be affected, with staff being notified beginning today. The Church will be providing outplacement services and severance packages, as well as pastoral care.

“Our hearts go out to those affected by the changes,” Adams-McCaslin said. “With God’s help, hope and faith, we will seek to renew our efforts to share God’s mission in this difficult time.”

Budget results are starting to trickle in. A big win for the Millennium Development Goals. The .7% has been returned as a line item. The recommendation of the bishops that the MDGs be returned as a line item and upped to 1%, while a wonderful gesture, was never going to happen. I\’m just grateful the Church has recommitted for the triennium.

Ecumenical and interfaith relations has taken a big hit, as has racial justice and the women\’s ministries desk at \’815\’. The Committee on the Status of Women is down but not out. It\’s to receive $20,000.

Thought you\’d find the text of the following resolution interesting. (The 77th General Convention will take place in 2012).

Resolved, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops Theology Committee, collect and develop theological resources and liturgies of blessing for same-gender holy unions, to be presented to the 77th General Convention for formal consideration;

and be it further Resolved, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops Theology Committee, devise an open process for the conduct of its work in this matter, inviting participation from dioceses, congregations, and individuals who are or have already engaged in the study or design of such rites throughout the Anglican Communion;

and be it further Resolved, that all bishops, noting particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships’ are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church;

and be it further Resolved, that honoring the theological diversity of this Church, no bishop or other member of the clergy shall be compelled to authorize or officiate at such liturgies;

and be it further Resolved, that the Anglican Consultative Council be invited to conversation regarding this resolution and the work that proceeds from it, together with other churches in the Anglican Communion engaged in similar processes.

The bishops have voted to open “any ordained ministry” to gay men and lesbians. This effectively counters the moratorium on ordaining gay bishops that the church passed at the last General Convention. The resolution was written in a nuanced way, however. It allows dioceses to consider gay candidates to the episcopacy, but does not mandate that all dioceses do so.

A similar measure was passed on Sunday by the House of Deputies, which is made up of laypeople and clergy. Today, the bishops’ version will probably go back to the House of Deputies for reconsideration. But given the bishops 2-to-1 approval, and the fact that the deputies\’ version passed by a similar margin, a quick concurrence is expected. In a classic Anglican touch, though, the resolution acknowledges our Church \”is not of one mind\” about the matter.

If you read my post from a few days ago about the Archbishop of Canterbury\’s visit to convention, this is, I believe, exactly what he was thinking about when he said, \”I hope and pray that there won’t be decisions in the coming days that will push us further apart.\”

What\’s interesting is the atmosphere at this convention versus that of 2003, when the Rev. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, was elected as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire. In 2006, the moratorium was passed at convention in an attempt to calm conservatives in the Anglican Communion and in the Episcopal Church.

Here\’s a picture of the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson that I took on Sunday after Eucharist.

The turmoil of the past six years has been replaced by a kind of calm. That\’s not to say there aren\’t strong opinions on both sides of the issue, but you just don\’t feel schism coming. The moratorium had never really pleased anybody. If what people wear is a gauge of where the thinking and emotions are, then an oft seen button and a big-selling T-shirt say alot: \”My Church Has No Outcasts\” reads the button, while the brightly colored tees say, \”Here I Am, Send Me! I am a witness to God\’s inclusive love\”

Eighteen representatives of the official “youth presence” at General Convention visited the ECW plenary to thank Episcopal Church Women for their support of youth and campus ministries in many dioceses and parishes, to share their dreams and eloquently advocate for their priorities as young Episcopalians: increased youth involvement, evangelism, outreach and human rights.

\”The community of youth yearn for a true voice in the Church. Our passion and faith are measurable, our ideas are sound,\” said 16-year old Amy Espinoza, a member of St. Martin\’s in the Diocese of Rhode Island, where she is a eucharistic minister.

Eighteen-year old Jacqueline Bray of St. Margaret\’s Church in San Diego was \”shocked to discover that the average age members of the House of Deputies is 65.\”

At the close of their visit, the Rev. Canon Liz Habecker, a member of the National ECW board, led the youth and the ECW delegates in a choreographed dance.

I\’m still not sure it did anything to prove we all aren\’t complete old fogeys, but as they were leaving one young woman did rush back to the microphone to say, \”I think you all have more fun here than they do in the House of Deputies!\”

Out of the mouths of babes.

One of the traditions of the ECW Triennial at General Convention is \”Shirt Day.\” Delegations show their team colors, so to speak, with the wearing of shirts announcing their diocese\’s name, and sometimes more. (Who knew Province II is the \”home of the kazoo\”?).

Shirt Day was Saturday. Here we are in our but-white-goes-with-everything shirts. A shout-out to diocesan ECW board member Anne Butler of Winston-Salem for making sure the embroidery happened on time.

And here\’s a sampling of some of the other Shirt Day shirts seen \’round the Anaheim Convention Center.